Occlusion evaluation apparatus and occlusion evaluation method

Abstract

An occlusion evaluation apparatus capable of evaluating a masticatory ability depending on an occlusal geometry of teeth without actually used by a human subject, reads three dimensional data of geometries of maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4 and mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8, and specifies a geometry of a fluxion space Va defined by a plane Sa which includes two adjacent contact points Pa between the maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4 and mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8 and which is perpendicular to the occlusal plane, the occlusal surfaces of the maxillary molar teeth 1, 2, 3, 4, and the occlusal surfaces of the mandibular molar teeth 5, 6, 7, 8.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD[0001]The present invention relates to an occlusion evaluation apparatus and an occlusion evaluation method.BACKGROUND ART[0002]As a method for measuring a masticatory ability of teeth (natural teeth and artificial teeth), as described in JP-2005-237710-A, JP-2008-220600-A and “Guideline for masticatory disturbance evaluation method-primarily method for measuring a masticatory ability—”, Prosthodontic Journal, 2002, vol. 46 no. 4, p. 619-625, it is introduced a method for determining a masticatory ability by means that a human actually masticate something.[0003]With such method, an effect of a muscular power, a chewing habit and the like of a human subject, and an effect of an occlusal geometry of teeth (including artificial teeth) can not be separately measured. Especially, at fabrication or adjustment of an artificial tooth, it is preferable that a masticatory ability resulted from an occlusal geometry of the artificial tooth can be independently evaluated.[0004]In ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]The objects of the present invention is to provided an occlusion evaluation apparatus and an occlusion evaluation method that can evaluate a masticatory ability depending on an occlusal geometry of teeth without actually used by a human subject.

[0012]According to these configurations, by checking a variation in size and shape of the fluxion space due to a masticatory movement, a magnitude of an effect to discharge a food ground by molar teeth from between teeth can be easily recognized, so that a masticatory ability of molar teeth can be evaluated independently of a muscle power and a chewing habit of a patient or an human subject.

[0016]According to this construction, a deterioration of a masticatory ability of a denture due to wear and a variation in a masticatory ability of a denture due to grinding can be checked in a quantified manner. Also, a comparison of masticatory abilities between a current denture and a denture to be newly fabricated can be made. Specifically, if deteriorations of a masticatory ability of dentures due to wear is quantified and a graph for comparing the data of the respective dentures can be displayed, information of a certain patient are accumulated so as to facilitate fabricating of more appropriate denture for the patient.

[0024]According to this construction, a change of a masticatory ability of the denture due to grinding can be simulated, thereby the best grinding can be found.

Problems solved by technology

However, any device or method for measuring a masticatory ability due to a condition of arrangement and occlusion of teeth is not known.

However, any device or method for measuring a masticatory ability due to a condition of arrangement and occlusion of teeth is not known.

Specifically, a comparison between different dentures or between a denture before use and the same denture after use is not made, and therefore evaluation of a time for replacement of a denture or a masticatory ability of a denture can not be made.

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